50 THE GARDENS OF WARLEY PLACE.
Most modern floriculturists would probably seek the Alpine
Garden as the chef-d'oeuvre of these delightful grounds, and
truly Miss Willmott has concentrated her great knowledge of
plants in this spot, and with her genius for artistic arrangement,
avoiding all suspicion of artificiality, she has developed a singu-
larly beautiful arrangement. Miss Willmott has followed her
own instinctive knowledge most wisely and successfully, in
departing from the usual method of building up an Alpine garden.
She has dug a deep ravine for the reception of the plants,
and by following out the natural contour of the land, being
favoured by the presence of an inexhaustible stream of water,
which keeps up a constant ripple through the bottom of the
ravine, she has not only solved many artistic difficulties, but
has warded off the winds of cold seasons, the stream keeping
the ravine moist in hot summers. No wonder that the
Alpine plants have taken full possession of their home, and by
strikingly luxuriant growth shown how they appreciate the
provisions made for them.
In this valley one finds an almost complete exemplification
of the Alpine Flora of the world. Plants from the Alps rub
shoulders with those from New Zealand. Those from the Andes
with those from Greenland, Cashmir, and California, the heights
of the Kilmandgaro, and with those of Parmi. In short, the
mountain ranges of the whole world have contributed their
treasures to this charming spot.
The stream which runs through this little valley, from north-
west to south-east, through a series of picturesque gorges, is the
home of many aquatic and moisture loving plants, such as the
beautiful red Nymphaea froebelli and the dark red American
variety, "William Falconer." On the edges of the water
Japanese Primulas look very happy growing with Trollius,
double and single King-cups, and a grand Caltha from the Vatican
gardens. On the boggy ground almost level with the water,
Primula rosea thrives with Ledum palustre and latifolium, Carda-
mine latifolium (single and double forms), Gunnera manicata, G.
scabra, and the diminutive G. majallanica. The American Ladies-
Slipper, Cypripedium spectabile, Orchis foliosa from Madeira, and
many of the Orchids of Central Europe, such as Orchis corio-
phora from St. Girod and O. laxiflora from the Lac de Bourget.
Here also may be found Orchis maculata, O. mascula, O.